bonjour monsieur
The English phrase 'hello to a male' is translated into French as bonjour monsieur.
bonjour monsieur is a polite greeting used when addressing a man. It is appropriate for use during daylight hours. After sunset, it is more typical to use bonsoir monsieur.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bon (good), jour (day) and monsieur (sir/mister).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bonjour monsieur is a formal and polite way to greet a man, making it suitable for use in shops, restaurants or when addressing strangers. In contrast, among younger generations in some areas, the more informal Salut mec (hi dude) may be used when greeting a male friend.
Did you know?
- In France, it is considered impolite to start a conversation with a stranger or a shopkeeper without first saying bonjour.
- The term monsieur is a linguistic fossil of the word 'senior', making it a distant relative of the English word 'senior'.
- If you use bonjour monsieur to a man in a very casual setting like a nightclub, you might actually sound unintentionally sarcastic or cold.
Examples in context
- Bonjour monsieur, comment allez-vous ?Hello sir, how are you?
- Bonjour monsieur, je voudrais un café.Hello sir, I would like a coffee.
Example conversation
Léa enters a small bakery and greets the man behind the counter.
- LéaBonjour monsieur.Hello sir.
- HugoBonjour madame, que désirez-vous ?Hello madam, what would you like?
- LéaUn croissant, s'il vous plaît.A croissant, please.
- HugoTrès bien, voici votre croissant.Very well, here is your croissant.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, monsieur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
